Document
Prayer
Master of Justice, Prince of Peace,
who rolled away the rock of injustice
and with your feet touched our land to reconcile us with you,
bless us with your peace in our hearts and in our land.
Illuminate our darkened souls.
Teach us how justice cannot prevail without your mercy.
Shed your Holy Spirit on us so we live your laws, sticking to the right track,
no matter what the circumstances of our lives,
following you in your witness of justice and peace, almighty Lord. Amen.
(Pilgrim Prayer, 7)
♪ Living Waters
Responsive Psalm 29
Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendour.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare;
and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.
Scripture Reading: Acts 9: 10 – 19
10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Reflection question: Can you think of an individual you would have avoided previously having to deal with because of a known reputation? What, if like Ananias, the Lord is inviting you to rethink your position and to no longer be elusive but to intentionally make a life-changing personal connection?
Prayer of Intercession
Jesus, we come to you,
Jesus, healer of every hurt, we come to you.
Jesus, we come, knowing you,
and wanting you to be known.
Jesus, we come to you,
bearer of our every burden,
Jesus, we come to you with many yokes,
asking that our burdens be lightened.
Jesus we come to you,
Lord and true light, giver of life and breath,
Jesus, we come to you as your body,
fill us more so we reflect your glory.
Jesus, we come to you,
bringing our whole selves to you, for without you, we cannot live—
Jesus, we come to you
bringing our families and our loved ones,
our neighbours and the foreigners in our streets
some with bodies burned and bloodied, minds and memories in turmoil.
We bring others who struggle against a rising tide,
accomplishing your will with limited strength.
We bring those who have known you and forgotten you,
let the people of the book find life in your word again.
We bring those who resist your Spirit,
who hinder and stir up hate.
We bring good leaders and their helpers to you,
your servants in this place,
the godly and growing,
who walk humbly before your face.
(Pilgrim Prayer, 9)
With the words that Jesus taught us, let us now pray together in the language of our hearts –
Our Father…
Benediction
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and all peace in faith, so that we may abound in
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
